Equine Sarcoids Chromosomal Regions Identified

Equine Sarcoids (ES), a common form of semi-malignant skin tumor, has long been recognized as having a genetic component, but how it's passed to offspring wasn't fully understood.

If you have ever had a horse with a sarcoid, which seem to be not that uncommon in Australia, you will appreciate how difficult they are to get rid off. It would be beneficial to find out how they are caused and how they can be prevented.

Thehorse.com has reported that now a team of Swiss researchers conducting a whole-genome scan, successfully located chromosomal regions associated with ES, bringing us one step closer to understanding the causes of this disease.

What are sarcoids?

Equine Sarcoids are the most frequently diagnosed tumor in horses.  Surveys have estimated the predominance of sarcoids at 20% of all equine neoplasms and 36% of all skin tumors. They occur at any age but are more common in young adult horses.  These tumors may be single or multiple and, although they occur most frequently on the head, limbs and abdomen, they can occur anywhere on the body including sites of trauma and healed wounds.

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• Read more at www.thehorse.com
• Find out more about sarcoids